Trolley-wire contactor



Dec. 30, 19.30. an. RABUN 1386449 TROLLEY WIRE CONTACTOR Filed Oct. 30. 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1I INVENToR.

BYVLWH(rg ATTORNEY Y1 C E l n n n n n nu n n u n n n n n n nu n n n FIG- 6 INVEN TOR. LM? au. RM

A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1930 tisane PATENT orties GEORGE D. annum or LouisvILLE, KENTUoKY,-AssrGNoa To encarnar/i maremma SWITCHING :DEVICE COMPANY, oF LoUIsvLLE, KENTUCKY TROLLEY -WIRE CON'TACTOR pplication tiled October 30, 1926. Serial No. 145,273.

lo and atv the same time increasing its effectiveness and efficiency in operation. y K

To the obt'aimnent` of thesel ends and the accomplishment of the new and useful objectsA `hereinafter appearing, my invention consists in thefeatures of novelty disclosed in the construction and combination and arrangement of y parts herein described v and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the embodiments of 20 my invention and wherein:

Figure li's an elevation of a tiolleylcontactor veinbodying my invention plus a current diagram. 2- is a top plan View of Fig. l. Fig. 3-is an enlarged longitudi- 25 nal view along th'e'line 3 3 of Fig. l shown partially in cross-section. Fig. a-isran elevation of a modified fornio'f my depending ear. Fig. 5is a bottoni view of Fig. Ll. Fig. 6" 'is an elevation'V of the central shoe mem- 5@ ber of Figures t Vand 5. Fig. -is an end view ot F ig. 6. Fig. S--is a bottom view of Fig. l. i

The deviceshown in the drawings and illustrating the embodiments of my invention is so called trolley pan used on a trolley wire at points adjacent an electrical track switch throwing device and is employed in connection with a trolley wheel, suitable solenoids and circuits including a circuit changer to direct the operation of the track switch from a passing caron which the trolley wheel is carried, the selection having been determined by the motorman going under the trolley pan with power on or power ofi. 1+i@ indicate insulated sections of the body ,member of my trolley pan which is secured to a metallic ba'clr-bone 2 by bolts lb. From thewinsulated member l, I employ a depsridingl ear member 3 to which is attached ai series of 'shoes 4 5-6, 4 and 6 being secured directly to trolley wire 7 and insulated from ear 3, while shoe 5 is insulated from the trolleyV wire by insulating material 8, said shoe being in .electrical contact with supporting screw 9 thru ear 3. Shoes tv and 6 which are readily renewed, are provided as wear members to protect Section5 from the normal hammering and abrasion produced by the trolley wheel. -Ear 11 is of the well known type for holding a wire directly to body member la.

The depending ear illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is my preferred7 as well as the commercial formof this part of my invention. l2 is van integral or unitary casting provided with means for clamping its ends lQ-l and 12.-*6 to trolley wire 7.L In' hole lQ-a, I mount supporting screw 9, around which is placed insulating collar 18a and washer l2?) so that central member. 5 will be completely insulated from l2. Shoe 5 should be regarded as an insulated section of the trolley pan `directly disposed in the path of trolley wheel groove so that it may have a smooth course oft-ravel. of 5 and trolley wire 7, I place a strip of insulatingmaterial le. This arrangement provides Lav maximum insulation for a givenv space to protect against surface leakage. ln Fig. 5, which is a true and full bottom view of Fig. et, l have shown the clamping ends lQ-lh 12-6, as embracing trolley wire 7 The entire integral casting" 12 is preferably made of a high grade malleable metal so that said ends will possess suiiicient pliancy to admit of the necessary hammering, or other forming means to shape same as shown in ythese ligures from a sutliciently open form, to embrace trolley wire 7 in accordance with accepted standard practice.

In operation the trolley wheel strikes shoe 4 and then rolls gently onV to shoe 5 without shock to the latter and then to shoe 6 and back on to the trolley wire 7. lt is of course obvious that in backing up the reverse order will take place. I wish to stress the value of the protection shoes 4 and 6 give to the insulated shoe 5. As the wheel progresses in the direction shown by the arrow, it next engages iiexible contact strips lO-lO with- Between the inner surface ril out leaving the Wire and thereby directs cur rent according to attached circuits and apparatus.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a body member adapted for attachment to a trolley Wire and having' an integral contact shoe insulated from but embracing and holding said Wire to said body.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a body member adapted for attachment to a. trolley Wire and having a plurality of shoes surrounding and holding said wire to said body, one of said shoes being of unitary structure and insulated from said Wire.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a body member adapted for attachment to a trolley Wire and having a plurality of shoes surrounding and holding said wire to said body, one of said shoes being of unitary structure and insulated from said wire and one of said shoes being so disposed that it forms a Wear member for protecting said insulated member.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a body member adapted for attachment to a trolley Wire and having a plurality of shoes surrounding and holding said Wire to said body, one of said shoes being of unitary structure and insulated from said Wire, each of said shoes being disposed on each side of said insulated shoe so that they form a Wear member for protecting said insulated member.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a body member adapted for attachment to a trolley Wire through a plurality of shoes and having a contact shoe insulated from but surrounding and holding said wire to the body, said body member also carrying a flexible contact member.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a body member adapted for attachment to a trolley Wire and having a plurality of contact shoes surrounding and holding said wire to said body, one of said shoes being insulated from said Wire, said body member also carrying a flexible contact member.

7. In combination with a trolley collector and atrolley pan comprising an integral frame provided With pliant shoes for engagement With a trolley Wire and an interposed shoe insulated from said frame and trolley Wire, said shoes being disposed for contact with a groove in said collector.

8. In a trolley pan comprising an integral frame provided With pliant shoes for engagement With a trolley Wire and an interposed shoe insulated from said frame and trolley Wire, said shoes being planimetrically disposed.

9. In combination with a trolley collector and a trolley pan provided with an insulated electrical contactor surface embraced by tWo linearly disposed electrical contact surfaces fashioned from an integral structure, said shoes being disposed for contact With a groove in said collector.

l0. In combination with a current collector and a trolley pan provided With an insulated electrical contacter surface embraced by two other linearly disposed electrical contact surfaces, said surfaces being disposed for contacting with a groove in said collector.

l1. In combination with a current collector and a trolley pan provided with an insulated electrical contacter surface embraced by two other lii'iearly disposed electrical contact surfaces, and provided with another surface for electrical contact with the current collector.

l2. In a trolley pan provided with an insulated electrical contactor surface embraced by two other planimetrically disposed contact surfaces Which are electrically connected.

13. In a trolley pan provided with an in sulated electrical contactor surface embraced by two other linearly disposed contact surfaces which are electrically connected, said trolley pan also being provided with another adjacent insulated contact surface.

14;. In a trolley pan provided with an insulated electrical contactor surface embraced by tivo other linearly disposed electrical contact surfaces which are electrically connected, said trolley pan also being provided with other adjacent insulated flexible contact surfaces.

15. In a trolley pan provided with an insulated electrical contactor surface embraced by two other linearly disposed electrical contact surfaces which are electrically connected, said trolley pan also being provided with other adjacent insulated substantially parallel contact surfaces.

I6. In combination With a current collector and a trolley pan provided with an insulated electrical contact surface embraced by two other linearly disposed electrical contact surfaces, said surfaces being disposed for contact with a groove in said collector, said trolley pan also being provided with another adjacent insulated contact surface disposed for contact With the flange of said current collector.

17. In combination with a current collector and a trolley pan provided with an insulated electrical contact surface embraced by tivo other linearly disposed electrical contact surfaces, said surfaces being disposed for contact With a groove in said collector, said trolley pan also being provided with other adjacent insulated contact surfaces disposed for contact with the flange of said current collector.

18. In combination with a current collector and a trolley pan provided With an insulated electrical contact surface embraced by tivo other linearly disposed electrical contact il i surfaces, said surfaces being disposed for contact With a groove in said collector, said trolley pan also being provided With another adjacent insulated contact surface disposed for contact with the flange of said current collector simultaneously with the Contact of the groove in said collector With the said insulated electrical Contact surface.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE D. RABUN. 

